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Making good compost has become something of an obsession for me lately. At idle moments, I've found myself contemplating the two heaps on my allotment. Affectionately called 'hedge heap' and 'new heap', I've been considering what else I could add to them to improve the compost.I'...

heavy rainfall, and provide the soil with sufficient quantities of magnesium to keep your plants healthy. Use a magnesium leaf spray, such as Epsom salts, on potatoes for a quick, temporary solution in summer. Apply Epsom salts or calcium

Alys Fowler's top 10 veg plantsWith increased awareness of organic farming, food miles and healthy eating, many more people are trying their hand at growing vegetables. We caught up with Alys Fowler at the Chelsea Flower Show for some tips

The foliage and stems of vegetable crops, such as potatoes, beans, peas, etc. Also known as bine.

The process of encouraging seed potatoes to sprout roots by exposing them to sunlight before planting out.

Make Halloween extra-special by growing your own pumpkins from seed. Learn how in this archive clip from BBC Gardeners' World (please note that the seed trial Monty mentions is no longer running).springMore advice on growing vegetablesGrow potatoes

Also referred to as ridging, to earth up is to cover roots with a thick layer of soil. It's particularly associated with potatoes, to prevent greening of the tubers.

1) The centre of a flower, where it's a different colour to the rest of the bloom.2) An undeveloped bud, eg, of a potato.

Discover the theory behind crop rotation, with Monty's back-to-basics video advice to giving optimum growing conditions for vegetable groups such as potatoes, legumes (beans, peas etc), brassicas (cabbages, cauliflowers, radishes), root vegebles

Monty Don demonstrates how to grow carrots in a container, with tips on mixing seeds for even distribution.springGrowing vegetables in pots & containersGrowing potatoes in a binGrowing potatoes in a bagGrowing tomatoes in pots and grow bags